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May 2013 Alternate Comics Diamond Previews Review

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May 2013 Alternate Comics Diamond Previews Review

 

Star Wars #7 Star Wars Dark Times Spark Remains #1 Star Wars Darth Vader & Ninth Assassin #4 Star Wars Legacy #5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Now that we have the big 2 out of the way we can look at the rest of Previews. First up is Dark Horse who is continuing with the push of it’s superhero franchises and re-establishing a shared universe amongst them. This is a smart move since I am sure that the Star Wars books will at some point switch to in-house. I don’t say this out of any negative emotions towards Dark Horse, it is just the reality of the situation, and in no way reflects the incredibly high level of quality they have set for their books.

 

Catalyst Comix #1            Catalyst Comix reintroduces us to Frank “Titan” Wells, Amazing Grace, and the Agents of Change. This is a nine issue mini and is no doubt a testing ground. If the response is good it would more than likely transition to ongoing, and nine issues will be easier to gain a bead on its sustainability after the initial sales drop off.

 

Captain Midnight #1            Captain Midnight #1 is the first issue of an ongoing by Joshua Williamson (W) and Fernando Dagnino (A), and is billed as a key title in this new superhero push. I know very little of this character and while it may not go home with me I will check it out on the stands and maybe it can convince me in person. The Paolo Rivera variant cover is very eye catching.

 

Massive #14            The New York arc continues in The Massive #14. Brian Wood is a writer who knows how to build a world and provide an amazing narrative on today’s society. The art team is stupendous and I question why this concept has not been put forward for consideration as a television series, it would be groundbreaking, much like it’s comic counterpart is now. Part DMZ but with a tighter link to today’s politics The Massive is a page turner without equal on the stands.

 

Strain the Fall #1            The Strain is a new series on FX but you can see the story unfold in comic book form when the second series is launched. The Strain: The Fall #1 by David Lapham (W), Mike Huddleston (A) picks up right where they left off in the first volume. The vampire virus is gaining a strong hold in Manhattan and it may be too late to stop them, or can Dr. Goodweather rally from his failure kill the Master in the first volume, and stop this plague? Get in on the ground floor in preparation for what is sure to be one of the most talked about television shows soon to hit the small screens.

 

Mass Effect Foundation #1            Mass Effect fans take note that they are getting a monthly, and it begins in the pages of Mass Effect: Foundation #1. The lead writer of both Mass Effect #2 and #3, Mac Walters, takes on the writing duties of this new monthly. The back story of Mass Effect is immense and it will be fun to see where they take this series, and if anything from the book will make it’s way into future game installments? This is worth keeping an eye on.

 

            I am not sure if they have been announced, but a Dragons Age 3, and Mass Effect 4, would be nice launch titles for the much rumored X-Box 720.

 

Judge Dredd Classics #1            Yet another Judge Dredd series launches with Judge Dredd Classics #1. The stories have been recolored and reprint classic Dredd tales. First up is “Block Mania” and after that should be the much loved Apocalypse War.

 

Satellite Sam #1            Image Comics brings another new launch by an outstanding creative team. Howard Chaykin has long been one of my favorite artist’s and Matt Fraction is an amazing writer, and together they bring us a noir story set in 1951 New York City involving murder and television back when it was glamorous! Satellite Sam #1

 

Molly Danger Book 1 HC            Jamal Ingle has been receiving allot of good press about his creation Molly Danger. She arrives in Molly Danger Book 1 HC. The concept of a young girl protecting New York for more than 20 years from non stop Supermechs is enough of a concept to grab me.

 

Cyborg 009 HC            Archaia is following up the #0 issue of Cyborg 009 with a new graphic novel hardcover. Archaia knows how to present hardcovers and I love the format and cover treatments of their books as well as the spine. This story brings the Cyborg 009 to our time and re-imagines them with a contemporary twist.

 

 All New Fathom #1 subAll New Fathom #1            Aspen is bringing us the next addition to their 10 for 10 celebration of their tenth anniversary in the form of Fathom #1. A new direction is hyped in the solicitation, although I am not familiar with any direction so I am wondering if this will be new reader friendly?

 

 

Uber #3  Uber #3 PropagandaUber #3 wrap

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I will predict Uber continues to be a hit for Avatar for a long time coming. The #0 issues was amazing and I cannot wait to see this dark world built in front of me. Gillen has proven time and again that he is a writer who is really making a name for himself and a talent worth following. Issue #3 of this series about Nazi developed super humans continues to show us what affect that would have had and how the world responds. If you can get your hands on the first couple of issues I strongly suggest you do.

 

Day Men #1            Boom Studios is launching a new title that could very well be a companion to the vampire world of True Blood. Day Men #1 by Matt Gagnon (W), Michael Alan Nelson (W), and art by superstar Brian Stelfreeze, tells the story of those that protect the vampires and their holdings during their dangerous daylight hours when they cannot risk exposure or they will die. While their masters sleep the Day Men fix and protect that which belongs to the vampires. The premise sounds exciting and helps bring us a different side of the much used vampire concept.

 

Red Sonja #1 main Red Sonja #1 A Red Sonja #1 B Red Sonja #1 C Red Sonja #1 D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           Over at Dynamite, one of their longest running female characters gets a relaunch and a new creative team. Fan loved creator Gail Simone writes the tales of Red Sonja, in Red Sonja #1 with art by Walter Geovani, and a slew of variant covers, which are all orderable, not just incentives, thank you Dynamite.

 

  Harbinger Wars #4 wrapHarbinger Wars #4 reg          The big news at Valiant is the ending of  the Harbinger Wars. The ending is very top secret at the moment, and the only thing announced about post war is that with the August shipping Bloodshot #14, it gets renamed Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps.

 

Bloodshot #13Harbinger #14            Issue #13 is the last with the team of Duane Swierczynski (W) and Barry Kitson (A) and the incoming team have pretty big shoes to fill. Issue #14 of Harbinger is the other closing chapter for this cross-over and I can’t wait to see how it ends. Bloodshot and Harbinger have intrigued me from the start and for them to cross over in such a way is a wonderful thing to behold. Everything works and nothing seems forced.

 

Quantum & Woody #1 reg Quantum & Woody #1 sub            Valiant is also bringing us the next new release in July with Quantum and Woody #1 by James Asmus (W) and Tom Fowler (A). The story of brothers who find themselves with abilities, and the seemingly endless ability to make more of a mess than help, comes out on July 10. I will be picking this up to see if I will want it on my trade list. I was a fan of the original Quantum and Woody so I have a strong connection to the characters but will try to reign in that bias when I read the relaunched comic.

 

Well that brings us to the end of Previews for July shipping product. See you soon for August.

May 2013 DC Comics Diamond Previews Review

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May 2013 DC Comics Diamond Previews Review

 

Next in Previews let’s take a look at the DC offerings for July.

 

Trinity Sin of Pandora #2 Constantine #5Trinity Sin of the Phantom Stranger #10             Trinity War kicks off and the battle royale between Justice League, Justice League Dark, and Justice League of America begins. I will be picking these up in single issue format until the end of the crossover when Justice League Dark will be going onto my trade waiting list. This crossover will hopefully add a bit more punch that the less than New “New 52” has had in recent months. A hero’s death is the catalyst and the crossover spills over into Trinity of Sin: Pandora #2, Constantine #5, and even though it isn’t listed, I would hazard a guess that Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #10 has a hint of a tie in, that’s just a guess though.

 

  Justice League Dark #22Justice League of America #6Justice League #22             Justice League #22 is the official kick off, with Part 2 taking to the pages of Justice League of America #6, and Part 3 gives us a defector who leaves the Justice League and joins Justice League Dark in #22 of their series. I do find it odd that Justice League Dark is a big part of this crossover and they didn’t do a retail/digital combo pack, at least for this crossover.

 

Wonder Woman #22             There are a small number of books that I feel the need to get monthly and Wonder Woman is one of them. Issue #22 is out in July and thanks to Brian Azzarello (W) and Cliff Chiang (A) we take our first trip to the New 52’s New Genesis, and she meets the Highfather face to face. This is one of the best series that DC is putting out and it has been consistent in quality being delivered by the creative team.

 

Justice League of Americas Vibe #6Katana #6             Even though the quality is present for the most part within the pages of Katana and Justice League of America’s Vibe, I think that July’s shipping of their sixth issues may mark the halfway point of their run’s as they are close too, if not already, in the cancellation danger zone. It’s unfortunate that these two books have yet to find a foothold and really start speaking with their own voices.

 

             These days the threshold between launch and cancellation is shrinking, and we aren’t seeing an industry where a new title or concept can not survive from the big 2. I hate too say it but maybe DC, and Marvel, should both just stop the attempts to introduce new, Image can provide the new, and instead they can focus on what does well. Less titles, but all titles will tie into concepts, teams, or characters that have a proven pedigree and drive sales. In the long run this would help the industry and strengthen it.

 

Flash #22             Now pivotal to Flash mythology is the character known as Reverse Flash and he makes his appearance in the pages of The Flash #22, and will his New 52 appearance signal even more change for our speedster?

 

 

  Batman Zero Year Directors Cut #1Superman Unchained Directors Cut #1Superman Unchained #2                                                   Superman Unchained releases its second issue in July and I am excited to see Mr. Snyder’s take on the old boy scout. Scott has become a writer I follow and because of that I have no problem double dipping when the Director’s Cut of #1 comes out in July, one month since the original #1. The two draws for me are the artwork, presented in beautiful pencil, and second would be the full script. I cannot wait to see how Mr. Snyder works his magic with words! Not to be outdone, Batman Year Zero: Director’s Cut #1 is also out in July and features much the same, the pencil work, and a full script. Again with Snyder’s name attached this is an instant buy. Because of Snyder I now have a month Superman and Batman books to look forward too, and with Wonder Woman coming home monthly I am officially collecting the true Trinity of the DC Universe.

 

Batman Incorporated #13Legends of the Dark Knight #10 Batman and Catwoman #22             The expected conclusion of Batman, Incorporated comes to us in issue #13, even though a special has already been announced for August. The special definitely has a Legends of the Dark Knight vibe to it, giving us stories of those within the organization, that fit during different time frames. Continuing on with Batman we have him partner up with Catwoman in Batman and Catwoman #22. Call me crazy but I like the sound of that as a title, and the storytelling possibilities are endless.

 

Batwing #22             The new Batwing returns to Gotham in the pages of Batwing #22. I think they are going to try to do everything they can to make this book work, but even being tied to Batman can save a title for only so long.

 

Legion of Super Heroes #22 Threshold #7             Two titles coming in July but slated for cancellation in August, are Legion of Super-Heroes #22, and Threshold #7. Threshold was not a surprise and I was expecting this news any day, but Legion kind of surprised me. I never expected it to be top ten, but I always felt that with the right creative team it would grab a foothold on the stands and stick around for awhile. Well the Legion as a concept does not stay down long so expect another resurgence in the near future, and I am predicting it will be tied to an event.

 

Stormwatch #22             Stormwatch #22 continues the story of Lobo joining Stormwatch. Jim Starlin has made this title fun again and it is an interesting combo of retro with the hard edge that the StormWatch possess, and it works. I was skeptical because of how burnt I felt with the initial New 52 relaunch but I am happy I gave it another try and I hope it gets enough of a sales bump to stave off cancellation. PS. The return of the original logo is wonderful, thank you DC.

 

Teen Titans #22             Raven looks like she is from Silent Hill on the cover of Teen Titans #22. Don’t make a noise or she will catch you…

 

Batman 66 #1             One of the biggest launches of the summer is in Batman ’66 #1 from Jeff Parker (W) and Jonathan Case (A) and a cover by none other than Michael Allred himself, whose style works so well with the retro pastiche that is Adam West’s Batman. This is coming home with me and I look forward to following this one for months to come!

 

Batman HC vol 03 Death of the Family             I may be late to the party but I am jumping on the Scott Snyder bandwagon and that includes his recent work. Shipping in October is the Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family HC. This includes issues #13-17 of Scott’s acclaimed run.

 

 

               DC Comics Joker AFDC Comics Black Manta AFNew 52 Captain Cold AFIn the action figure department we have new releases for my favorite line, and one of two action figure series I actively collect, the New 52 figures. We find solicitations for Captain Cold, Black Manta, Joker, and a NNew 52 Trinity War AF box setew 52 Trinity box set. DC is aware of the possibility of duplicates and for the most part try to make things different, such as the box set where we get a Wonder Woman with a different head sculpt, and Superman gets a snazzy metallic paint job. It appears that Batman is the only one that would be a duplicate. Well worth it for me, especially for Supes new paint job.

 

             That is DC for this July 2013. See you soon when we look at the rest of Previews.

May 2013 Marvel Comics Diamond Previews Review

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May 2013 Marvel Comics Diamond Previews Review

 

The latest Previews has been out for a couple of weeks and I have spent quite some time pouring over it. I am taking a big leap this week and switching to trades on more than half of my titles currently on my pull list, and dropping a few titles, while starting to pick up back titles featuring creators I have grown to appreciate in my nearly 3 decade long love of the comic book art form. I am excited about focusing my collecting, and my bank account will like it too.

 

Let’s take a look at Marvel. First let me actually insert a disclaimer, for most titles I am dropping it is not a matter of quality more a matter of relevance when looking at my collection as a whole, and what I like to read. Now back to Marvel.

 

Avengers #16 InfAvengers #15 Inf           Early indicators point to Marvel Now being a success but sadly it wasn’t for me, with most titles I tried, never making it past the third or fourth issue, some outright stopping at one. There are a handful of titles that have kept me interested and they will all be moving to trade waiting status. This was a difficult choice because the books I still follow represent, in my opinion, some of the more exciting ideas to come out of Marvel Now, and each title has such a strong future. A future that we are seeing built right before our eyes. The Marvel Universe has become even bigger than we ever imagined.

 

Thanos Rising #4 InfNew Avengers #8 Inf           First up is what I consider the flagship of the entire Marvel Universe, the Avengers. Issues #15 and #16 continue on the prelude path to Infinity.  As much as I want to see how Thanos becomes relevant once again I will wait to pick up the hardcover that is sure to be just down the road. For monthly purchasers though these are must have issues with the beginning of the first Marvel Now crossover storyline. Speaking of Infinity, over in New Avengers #8 we have another prelude tie in. This issues looks to further address the rift that has formed between T’Challa and Namor over Namor’s destructive acts to the Wakandans, while possessed by a portion of the Phoenix.

 

Avengers AI #1           July is the month when the after effects from The Age of Ultron begins to be felt, and what better way than to launch another Avengers monthly? (Sarcasm is tough to convey while using a keyboard.) This one definitely seems to tap an interesting angle by being a team of artificial lifeforms, and is led by Hank Pym. Avengers A.I. #1 is written by Sam Humphries with art by Andre Lima Araujo, and will be coming home with me. I will try the first 3 issues to see if this will become a part of my trade waiting books.

 

Guardians of the Galaxy #5 Now           One of the most interesting side effects of the Age of Ultron story is the introduction of the Neil Gaiman created, and one time Spawn cast member, Angela, to the Marvel Universe. Issue #5 of The Guardians of the Galaxy has her first post Age of Ultron appearance. If that isn’t enough to intrigue you then perhaps the addition of Neil Gaiman as co-writer should be enough to make this a must read. I lost interest right off the hop with this series but I cannot pass up the chance to check out a book that may or may not break the internet.

 

Another tie in to the Ultron saga is one shrouded in secrecy is Age of Ultron #10 U.C.. Nothing is known about this title, not even the creative team, and the acronym U.C. remains a mystery. Curiosity is making me add this to my order.

 

What If AVX #4What If AVX #1What If AVX #3What If AVX #2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been a fan of the What If books right from the first volume and I am excited that we get a new What If series in July. This time it is a 4 issue mini-series that shows us a radically different path of events for the Avengers Vs. X-Men crossover. Jimmy Palmiotti (W) and Jorge Molina (A) brings us these four issues with the hopes that this brings about a more regular publishing schedule for the Marvel Alterniverse.

 

Uncanny Avengers #10 Now           Dead characters are brought back again, this time as the Four Horsemen of Death in the pages of Uncanny Avengers #10. What happened to the other three Horsemen? Haven’t characters been brought back enough? First the multitude of Living and Unliving Legions, to Necrosha, to Chaos War, this has been done. Here’s hoping the storyline is bringing something new to this over used plot idea.

 

Avengers Assemble #17Captain Marvel #14           It will be interesting to see if the Captain Marvel crossover with Avengers Assemble did anything to help save the series. I expect to see a final issue notation in a near future Previews. This one is definitely not due to quality. Kelly Sue DeConnick has done an amazing job of writing Carol Danvers story and I for one hope that it survives this possible cancellation. Issue #14 of her series sees the final chapter of “The Enemy Within”. This could be one of those character defining stories that will set the standard for who Carol is. This book is worth a look.

 

Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #1           Superior Spider-Month is an exciting time to be a fan of the wall crawler, at least for those that didn’t explode after reading the latest issue, as Marvel launches 3 new Spidey centric comics. Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #1 replaces Avenging Spider-Man on the publishing roster and the first issue features the creative team of Christopher Yost (W) and David Lopez (A). With recent developments it will make potential team-ups all the more interesting.

 

Superior Carnage #1           Carnage returns more deadly than before in the pages of the Kevin Shinick written and Stephen Segovia drawn Superior Carnage #1, the first in a four issue mini-series that introduces a new Carnage to the world, one that is more dangerous and unpredictable than any before.

 

Superior Foes of Spider-Man #1           The final launch is The Superior Foes of Spider-Man, a villain centric book from Nick Spencer (W) and Steve Lieber (A). This is an ongoing and considering it’s focus will be villains, it may have a tough road ahead for it. Nick Spencer has proven that he can handle the bad with his work speaking for itself in the pages of Morning Glories.

 

Morbius Living Vampire #7 Now           I am assuming that Marvel is trying to bump up Morbius a bit as issue #7 is a tie into Superior Spider-Month. The main thrust here will be sales. This is an interesting book and while I didn’t love the first few issues, I didn’t hate them either. If the Morbius series fails then maybe Marvel could give the Midnight Sons another go?

 

Indestructible Hulk #11           It has been heavily speculated that Indestructible Hulk #11 could be Age of Ultron effects spilling over into the Marvel Universe with the very ominous sounding “History’s breaking”, in the solicitation.

 

Dexter #1           Dexter #1 is solicited again…not going to say much as this is the third time this has been solicited. I will believe it when I see it.

 

Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1           First he killed the Marvel Universe, then he killed some of the most beloved characters in literature, now he completes the circle, turning his attention onto himself in Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1 (of 4). Deadpool aficionado Cullen Bunn writes and Salva Espin draws what is sure to be the most violent entry into the Deadpool Killogy.

 

All New X-Men #14 Now           Even though I am switching to trade for All-New X-Men, this is an issue that would be tempting to pick up as Jean Grey faces off against Mastermind, again. He was responsible for Jeans downfall in the past, will this happen again or will Jeans time in this new future have developed a side of herself she never knew? We have already started seeing a slightly darker Jean, and I am hoping to see more.

 

In a move that is meant to intrigue readers of Fables to hop on the Marvel train by releasing an original Once Upon A Time Premiere Hardcover that ties into the television series continuity. The focus is one of my favorite characters, the evil queen, and features another attempt by her, to capture Snow White. I am not familiar with the team of Dan Thomsen (W) and Corinna Bechko (A) but being a fan of the show I will be checking this out. It ships in August.

 

That brings an end to our look at Marvel, next we visit their distinguished competition, DC.